Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said there was no reason for new US sanctions on Bangladesh, and he hoped that good sense would prevail over the situation.
It would be “very unfortunate” if new sanctions were imposed without cause, he told reporters during a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The briefing had been arranged to inform the media on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Qatar. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin, among others, was present.
The foreign minister said he does not have any idea about the new sanctions, as they depend on individual countries.
“We hope that good sense will prevail. There is no reason for new sanctions, and if that happens it will be very unfortunate,” he added.
Regarding a recent report in the daily Kalbela newspaper on fresh US sanctions, which the Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday night, Momen said he had never worked as a lobbyist for a Chinese firm and the report had defamed him.
“This (the media report) is something very strange and surprising. No references or sources are mentioned,” he said.
The Foreign Ministry statement describes the Kalbela report as “completely false and baseless.”
The foreign minister also referred to Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, who also recently said that there was no reason to impose sanctions on Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said that a recent travel warning from the US on Bangladesh is the result of BNP's ill-motivated political movement.
“Due to the BNP's arson and anarchy, the US has issued a travel warning for its people in Bangladesh,” Mahmud told reporters at the Secretariat.
He said the BNP's politics is defined by murder and conspiracy.
Ahead of the upcoming 12th National Parliament elections, the US Embassy in Dhaka has advised US citizens in Bangladesh to move with caution. They have been advised to avoid protests at this time.
The warning was published on the website of the US Embassy as a “Demonstration Alert” on Sunday.
The embassy warning included avoiding public gatherings and protests, being aware of surroundings, watching local media regularly, and keeping a charged mobile phone in hand at all times for emergency communication.